A is for aging, and B is for burning
Too much UV exposure contributes to mutations in skin cells, as well as the loss of collagen, the element of the skin's structure that prevents sagging, wrinkling, splotching, leathering, dryness and spider veins. While the shorter-wave UVB rays are responsible for the common sunburn, it is the longer-wave UVA that can cause premature aging by damaging the elastic fibers of the skin. UVA can also wreak real havoc by suppressing the immune system, causing keratoses (freckle-like precancerous lesions), squamous- and basal-cell skin cancers (the non-deadly types), and melanoma.
There are, however, measures that paddlers and boaters of all kinds can and should take to help prevent premature aging, sunburn, and skin cancer.

Protective clothing
Aside from avoiding the sun altogether, perhaps the most effective method of minimizing UV exposure is to wear appropriate clothing. Start with a good sun hat with at least a medium-broad brim. The hat will help prevent the sun's rays from contacting some of your most UV-vulnerable places-your eyes, ears and face. A hat will also keep you cool on a hot day and warm on a cold one. Also essential are long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to protect your legs when out of your kayak, lounging on the beach.
Clothing made especially for sun protection is available from some outdoors stores, swim shops, catalogs and online. Some garments list a Clothing Protection Factor (CPF) rating system similar to the SPF system used for sun screens. Most UV-resistant clothing is made of polyester fabric, which is by far the most effective at blocking UV radiation. Sun-blocking cloth is tightly woven to further prevent rays from getting to the skin. Avoid cotton, as it is the least effective fabric for sun protection, even if it is tightly woven. It also absorbs and holds water, diminishing its ability to block sunlight and leading to the potential for hypothermia.

Sun Blocks
Sun blocks protect the skin by reflecting both UVB and UVA radiation away from the skin. Until recently, sun-wary paddlers using sun blocks were easy to pick out of the crowd. They wore layers of white paste on their noses and lips in order to stave off UV radiation. Some new sun blocks use a micro-fine form of zinc oxide-known as Z-Cote®-which is transparent when applied to the skin. SkinCeuticals and All Terrain are two companies offering products that provide all of the protection of a sun block without the muss and fuss of a sticky and unsightly paste. The sun-blocking ingredients remain inert on the skin and are hypoallergenic.
Sun block should be spread on liberally and evenly, paying particular attention to more vulnerable areas such as neck, face, ears, and the backs of your hands (very important for paddlers). Apply a fresh coat every two to three hours.

Sun Screens
Most sun screens contain chemicals that absorb-and therefore help protect the user against-UVB radiation. Some of the ingredients in sun screens metabolize (break down) on the skin, and may cause allergic reactions.
The SPF (sun protective factor) rating on sun screens is calculated by dividing the time it takes to produce redness on skin protected with sun screen by the time required for unprotected skin to turn the same shade of red. In theory, if you use an SPF 10 sun screen you can stay in the sun ten times longer before burning. In actual practice you ought to use a product with a SPF of 15, 30 or higher, but don't lull yourself into thinking you can loll indefinitely in the midday sun! Some researchers believe that a false sense of security resulting from the use of screens is contributing to the rise in the incidence of skin cancer. Although the use of many common commercial screens can help prevent sunburn and reduce the incidence of lesions (precursors to malignant melanoma) and non-melanoma skin cancer (the non-deadly types), they are not necessarily effective in protecting the skin against deadly malignant melanoma caused by UVA exposure.
The SPF rating system applies to UVB only, so no matter what rating the sun screen carries, only broad-spectrum screens absorb both UVB and UVA. If you choose to use a sun screen, buy a broad-spectrum product with the highest SPF you can find and apply it liberally and often.

Sunglasses
UV exposure has been linked to cataracts and macular degeneration-eye diseases that can cause partial or total blindness-as well as other less serious but irritating ophthalmological problems. Buy glasses labeled as 100% UVB- and UVA-protective, and select glasses with a wraparound lens style, to help protect against reflected and oblique rays. UV coatings can easily be added to corrective eyeglass lenses. Some contact lenses are available with a UV blocker, but contact lens wearers should wear sunglasses for additional protection. UV light can penetrate clouds, so don't resort to using sunglasses only when the sun is out.
Cheap sunglasses can do more harm than good by causing pupils to dilate and be subject to increased penetration of UV rays. Wear a retaining strap with your glasses so they are less prone to loss and damage: Scratches reduce the effectiveness of the protection offered by lens coatings.

Exposure
Forget sunbathing -choose another recreational activity. (Avoid artificial tanning devices, too. The lamps used in many tanning parlors emit high levels of UVA.) Avoid exposure between the peak sun hours20:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.-especially during the summer months. Choose a shady spot for lunch or midday breaks from paddling. If most of your life is spent indoors, don't rush out and immediately soak up harmful sun rays at the first sign of summer. Some sun exposure is required for basic physical and psychological health, such as the production of vitamin D, but don't overdo it. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of incoming UV is able to reach the earth's surface, and your tender skin.

Your skin is your largest organ! If you are an avid kayaker or outdoors person, take a few simple precautions to protect it against harmful UV radiation. That way your skin will serve you well for many years to come, doing what it does best: regulating your body temperature, storing needed fats and water, and protecting you against heat, injury and infection.

Graham Shuley is a certified kayak guide and instructor living in Victoria, BC, Canada.
He can be reached at gshuley@islandnet.com